The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-01-27
OUR RURAL TOPICS,
Some Practical Suggestions for Our
Agricultural Readers
rMPRoyING THE corn cEop.

IMPROVING THE CORN CROP.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: would like
to say few words to the agricultural readers Of
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE in regard to the corn
crop aud the improvement ofthe same. Although
the product Of this great staple is over 600 000
600 of bushels annually, there is abundant op-
portunity to increase the quantity and improve
the quality without materially increasing the
acreage and cost Of production. There is album
dant proof on every hand that the Improvement,
both in quantity and quality, is greatly needed,
as reports from many different localities
throughout the six great corn-growing States
of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kansas and
Missouri report a shortage. There is no doubt
that the States above could consume double the
| amount on hand.
The FIRST important step toward the improve
ment Of the corn crop is planting better seed
seed of early, hardy varieties. 1t has been
demonstrated time and again that it is poor
economy to plant large, late varieties of corn in
any of the Western States. 1t has also been
demonstrated that the large varieties do not
yield as much shelled corn per acre as the
smaller varities. Again, quality and not size
| is very important consideration At the
| great Prairie Farmer corn show held in Chicago
| last November, this fact was demonstrated
There were many varieties tested by the Award
/ ing Committee, and while the smaller Northern
varieties made record Of only IL per cent of
| cob, all the large varieties showed a record of
| from 20 TO 80 per cent. of cob.
Again, all large corn has q characteristic of
| maturing late in the season, endangering the
1 crop by early frost and not only the habit of
being late but also of barrenness In all large
4 tbara rlass har- n,
other hand Northern grown and smaller corn
is prolific in ears. every stalk producing at least
/ one good ear field of corn with medium
sized stalks well loaded with ears and the ears
well filled from butt to tip, is what will pan
| out the corn.
The smaller varieties will not only yield the
| most shelled corn, but will yield more fodder
and of better quality. What We want is to turn
our corn crop into beef aud pork, and the most
| economical way to do this is TO feed stalk and
all, thus avoiding the cost of husking and stor-
| ing the crop. All intelligent farmers will agree
with me that the best way to store the corn crop
is to cut it up for fodder and store it by feeding
it into beef and pork.
As an illustration to prove the statement
that smaller Northern varieties of corn will
| yield more corn per acre than the large South
| ern varieties refer to the report of the Com
| missioner of Agriculture, which shows that
the yield per acre of the Southern States was
only from to 13 bushels while that of the
Northern States was from 81 to al bushels.
The above figures show that the yield in the
South is far inferior to that of the North, that
n warm climate and long period OF growth,
| while producing large kernel, tends to give a
j gross plant with but few ears--in other words
large, barren stalks which exhaust the fertility
Of the soil without giving any return.
From what has been learned IN our inyesti-
| cations it is apparent that climatic condi-
| hpinU ha inn fofn
corn crop must be brought about by increas-
ing the product per acre and the weight
| per bushel, by planting Northern-grown seed
which is more prolific in ears 1t is a we'll
known fact that corn transported from North
to South for seed purposes is always followed
by good results. On the other hand, seed
transported from South to North nearly always
fails. This is especially true where the change
has been made any considerable distance. In
| telligent and thorough cultivation is the next
| important consideration in the way of improv-
| ing the corn crop. In future articles the
writer will be glad to give his views in regard
TO mode Of cultivation. A. l.. GODDARD,
Alpha, Iowa.
BREEDING HENS FOR LAYING PURPOSES.
1t seems to DO admitted that one can breed
for eggs just as one can breed for milk or but
ter. An egg from a good layer will be more
likely to produce a good layer than an egg
disputed that We know of. Most people claim
that it is impossible to pick out the desired
eggs. 1t may be in q very large flock, but in
our yards of Is hens we can easily tell them.
1t takes an observing man but short time to
determine which are the workers among his
hens. As rule, each hon lays an egg peculiar
TO herself. 1t is q little different In shape or
size from the rest. We find that two-thirds of
our hens do about all the work. There are
many loafers. Four or five hens lay right
along. We propose to set eggs from them and,
If possible raise both pullets and ROSTERS from
our best layers. We think it would pay large
breeders TO experiment with their hens. Put
them in small hocks from time to time and
watch them. Pick out the best layers and put
them together and select the pick Of the flock
| for breeding stock. III there is anything in
breeding. this would lay the foundation of a
strain Of good layers, and with cocks from good
laying hens tho strain can be kept up.
NOTES
Tho very best mulch for tender garden
plants is forest leaves, and quite independent
of their value as Winter protection they are
worth all the cost of gathering aad drawing for
| their beneficial action on the soil.
- Breeding animals should not be kept too fat,
and those that are intended for breeding pur-
poses should not be fed with those being fatted
for market. II the females be too fat the young
will be weak and puny.
| - Oonuenseu mix Is mauo principally IN
Switzerland. There are 100, 900 head of cattle
in the Republic, rather more than half of
which are cows. These yield 223,OO0000 gal
Ions Of milk per annum, which is worth, on es-
| innate, $4,000 900.
= Do not feed the fattening hogs any longer
than is necessary. Slaughter them as soon as
the temperature of the atmosphere is at the
freezing point, which is better than when the
weather is very cold. 1t is not economical to
feed hogs in very cold weather if they be in
proper condition for killing.
Apple, peach, pear, plum and cherry trees
set along boundary lines of farms interfere very
little with cultivation, and their fruit is pro-
duced almost without cost after the trees are
well established, while at the same time they
may serve a useful purpose as screens to miti-
gate the force of driving storms.